Syracuse, NY – My dad used to make paper planes for my siblings and I when we were growing up. We’d thrown them down the stairs, into the Christmas tree and at the back of mom’s head while she was cooking dinner. They’d never last long but always flew strong. After awhile, the planes were not enough and I got interested in a more sophisticated form of paper folding called origami.
The first piece of origami I learned to make was the paper crane. It was so much fun. Whenever I was bored in church or waiting for the square shaped pizza at Chuck E. Cheese’s, I’d cut out a square from the bulletin or place mat and fold away. The faces people made when they saw the little bird flap its angular wings was priceless. In middle school I continued folding regularly. Through trial, error and many origami books, I learned how to make a cicada, dragonfly and butterfly. Like pieces of fine art, I’d set my creations on top of my sticker covered desk, making sure none of my Roald Dahl books fell on top of them.
As time passed, my interest in origami waned. High school was all about cars, girls and popping zits. Yet through it all, I remembered how to make the paper crane. During my last few months at Arlington High School in LaGrange, NY, I took a public speaking class with Mr. Buegers. I’ll never forget it. One of our assignments was to teach the class how to do something in five minutes. With a banana and profilactic, one guy showed the class how to properly put on a condom. Another one showed us how to make pb&j’s. I showed the class how to make a paper crane. Most students didn’t have the patience–or dare I say, the intelligence–to get it right but for those who did, I could tell they enjoyed it.
College came and went, then came again, and my memory of how to make those silly paper insects nearly disappeared. The only one that lasted was the paper crane.
A few days ago I saw a segment on a local news station about a paper crane project at Syracuse University to help raise money for those affected by the tragedy in Japan. I was floored. The footage of the exhibit, located right outside of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, was beautiful. So today, after work, I took a trip over to SU with my Polaroid Spectra. Thankfully, the hellish weather in Syracuse had not destroyed the exhibit. I took my time, found what I thought was a good angle and shot.
Before you check out the Polaroid, please take time and visit the Project Paper Crane website. This is an extremely good cause to donate to. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy the Polaroid.
Tags: arlington high school, chuck e cheeses, japan, mr. buergers, new york, ny, photography, pizza, polaroid, polaroid spectra, Roald Dahl, s.i. newhouse school of public communications, syracuse, syracuse university, tsunami
Most excellent post, Fern. Making paper cranes is one of my specialties, and I’m most famous for making them from gum wrappers … itty bitty minty-smelling cranes.
For an assignment in my high school German class we also had to teach a “How-To,” auf Deutsch. I taught paper crane origami, of course.
Thanks, Chloe. Looking back, I remember keeping one buried in my wallet as if I’d one day need a paper crane to gain entry into a movie theater or something. They’re pretty awesome.
What a wonderful story! SU’s project to raise funds for those affected by the tragedy in Japan iusing the origsmi crane is very unique and has much symbolism. I envision the crane lifting itself up and soaring, which is what the Japanese people will do to overcome their tragedy.